Wright GB Kite
| Wright GB Kite | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Wrightbus |
| Production | 2022– |
| Assembly | Ballymena, Northern Ireland |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Electric bus Fuel cell bus |
| Doors | 1 or 2 |
| Floor type | Low floor |
| Chassis | Integral |
| Related | Wright GB Hawk |
| Powertrain | |
| Capacity | 90 maximum |
| Battery |
|
| Range |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 10.6 metres (35 ft) |
| Width | 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) |
| Height | 3.0 metres (9.8 ft) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Wright Eclipse 3 Wright StreetAir |
The Wright GB Kite is a range of full-size zero-emission single-deck buses which was unveiled by Wrightbus in 2021. Similar in body style to the diesel powered Wright GB Hawk, the GB Kite is an integral design that can be built as a battery electric vehicle, the Electroliner BEV, and as a fuel cell electric vehicle, the Hydroliner FCEV.[1][2]
The GB Kite range was launched in September 2021, following the launch of the double-deck Wright StreetDeck Electroliner and Hydroliner range earlier in the year.[3] The Electroliner BEV has a maximum range of 250 miles (400 km) with the top option of a 567kwh battery, charged through conventional DC charging or pantograph charging. The Hydroliner FCEV has a maximum range of 640 miles (1,030 km), powered with a with either a 70 or 100kwh fuel cell system produced by Ballard Power Systems in combination with a 35 kg (77 lb) or 50 kg (110 lb) hydrogen tank.[4]
Orders
Hydroliner FCEV
The first orders for GB Kites was placed in November 2021, with Metrobus ordering 20 Hydroliner FCEV vehicles for use on the Fastway network, to be delivered in late 2022.[5][6]
60 left-hand drive Hydroliner FCEVs have been ordered by Cologne municipal operator Regionalverkehr Köln, Wrightbus' first European order since the bus builder was rescued from bankruptcy, with deliveries of the Hydroliners to take place between 2023 and 2025.[7][8]
Electroliner BEV
28 Electroliners are expected to enter service with the Foyle Metro in 2023 as part of an investment by Translink for 38 battery electric Wright buses for Derry.[9] 50 more have been ordered for delivery to both Ulsterbus and Metro in Belfast in summer 2024.[10]
The FirstGroup has ordered 173 GB Kite Electroliners for five of its subsidiaries as part of an order placed in August 2022 which also includes 20 StreetDeck Electroliners. GB Kite Electroliners are to be delivered to First York and First West Yorkshire, First Leicester, First Eastern Counties and First Hampshire & Dorset for services in Leeds, York, Leicester, Norwich and Portsmouth respectively.[11]
References
- ^ a b "GB Kite Electroliner BEV". Wrightbus. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ a b "GB Kite Hydroliner FCEV". Wrightbus. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Wrightbus to launch electric and hydrogen powered GB Kite". Coach & Bus Week. Emap. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Wrightbus presents electric & fuel cell single-decker buses". electrive. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Go-Ahead buys its first zero emission hydrogen buses". Go-Ahead News. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "20 Wrightbus hydrogen single-deckers for Metrobus Fastway". RouteOne. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ Breslin, John (27 May 2022). "Wrightbus to supply German city of Cologne with 60 hydrogen buses". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Wrightbus: Ballymena firm to supply 60 hydrogen buses to Germany". BBC News. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Further electric investment announced in Northern Ireland". Buses. Stamford: Key Publishing. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.(subscription required)
- ^ "Translink orders 100 more ZE buses from Wrightbus". routeone. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ Deakin, Tim (31 August 2022). "First Bus orders 193 Wrightbus battery-electrics". routeone. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
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